Alleged Serbian War Criminal Fails to Halt Canadian Citizenship Revocation Case
Alleged Serbian war criminal Goran Pavic has been unsuccessful in his attempt to derail the federal government's legal action aimed at proving he obtained Canadian citizenship through fraudulent means. The case, which could render him inadmissible to Canada, centers on accusations that Pavic provided false information on his immigration applications decades ago.
Government Allegations of Fraudulent Immigration
According to a recent Federal Court decision, Immigration Minister Lena Diab and Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree allege that Pavic "made false statements on his application for permanent residence, which allowed him to obtain permanent residence in Canada in 1997 and Canadian citizenship in 2002." The government claims these misrepresentations were deliberate and material to his immigration success.
War Crimes Accusations from Balkan Conflict
The ministers further assert that Pavic "is inadmissible to Canada because he was involved in the commission of, or was complicit in, crimes against humanity committed in the village of Sotin, now in Croatia." These allegations stem from events during the 1991 Balkan wars, specifically concerning Pavic's involvement with Serbian forces.
The federal government's statement of claim details that Pavic, who has a Serb ethnic background, was born in Vukovar in what was then the Socialist Republic of Croatia. The plaintiffs claim he participated in crimes including:
- Imprisonment
- Forcible transfer
- Murder
These alleged crimes occurred while Pavic served with the Serbian Territorial Defence Forces and later the Sotin Police in 1991.
Pavic's Defense and Counterclaims
In his defense, Pavic maintains that he was involuntarily conscripted into the Serbian Territorial Defence Forces in September 1991 and assigned to the Sotin Police the following month. His legal team has filed detailed pleadings asserting his lack of knowledge about any alleged crimes and challenging the government's version of events.
Pavic, now 60 years old, answered "no" when asked on his immigration application whether he had ever been involved in war crimes or crimes against humanity. The government claims this response was false, stating that he was indeed involved in crimes against humanity in Sotin between October and December 1991.
International Dimension and Past Detention
The case has international implications, as Pavic was detained by U.S. authorities in late 2007 while working as a truck driver. This detention occurred after he crossed the Ambassador Bridge and was based on an Interpol warrant issued by Croatia, according to documentation from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
Furthermore, the government's claim references a December 2010 letter Pavic wrote to the Serbian Prosecutor for War Crimes, in which he acknowledged being in Sotin during "the war days" of September-October 1991 and stated that everything he did was "on someone's orders."
Legal Proceedings Continue
With Pavic's motion to dismiss the case now rejected, the Federal Court will proceed with hearing the government's allegations. The outcome could set significant precedents for how Canada handles immigration cases involving individuals accused of international crimes.
The case highlights Canada's ongoing efforts to address historical immigration fraud and maintain the integrity of its citizenship process, particularly when allegations of serious human rights violations are involved.
